Pack List

In real time, I’m about to leave Thailand… on Feb. 27th, but I’ve backdated this post so when I publish the next month worth of blogs this doesn’t continue to show up as the most recent. Yes I’m still a month behind on the blog… Sue me and you can try to take everything I have. At least everything I have with me which you’re about to learn exactly what that is. I’m suspecting learning this will dissuade you from suing me.

First a little tangent… A strange thing happened just after I landed in Bangkok, I checked me email and found a message from Robin. Robin is a former roommate of mine whom I pretty much haven’t heard from since she moved out a several years ago. The message was to say she had finally made her dream of moving to New Zealand come true. Go Robin! Then about two weeks later I get another unexpected email from Amy, a girl friend from about 10 years ago that I recently got back in touch with. She emailed to announce she was up and moving to China! Amy started a blog and the first few entries documented her physically moving to Lahasa, Tibet. She also started a blog and a few days ago in one of the first few entries she made a list of everything she brought with her. It got me thinking that it’s about time I make a list of everything I have with me.

Like nearly everyone, I get criticized for having too much stuff with me; however, I must say that I pale in comparison to her. It’s different for everyone; she’s moving to one location, she only has to move her stuff once. I move around weekly, sometimes daily, I can’t afford quite so much stuff, and I am traveling in vastly different climates over the next year. As such there are a few things that I use infrequently but still need to carry. Anyway, here it is, my worldly possessions for traveling the world (or at least this part of it). If there is an asterisk next to it that means it’s something I bought it or had it shupped to me in route.

I’ll preface it by saying I get criticized for having too much stuff, but that I pale in comparison to her. Say that is just part of an game all travelers play called “Your bag is bigger/heavier than my bag.”. In truth it’s different for everyone because everyone’s travel and needs are different. She’s moving to once, to one location that she can and needs to make a little comfortable. I move around weekly, sometimes daily, so I can’t afford quite so much creature comfort type stuff but need different practical things. I am traveling in different climates over the next year and as such there are a few things that I use infrequently but still need to haul around, big heavy hiking boots for example. Someone only traveling in the south of Thailand where even at night the temperature never drops below 25’C can obviously get away with a lot less weight. Someone with out the need or desire to have a nice camera and laptop with them can also get away with far less weight. On the other side of the spectrum some of the fire dancers I’ve been hanging out with that carry props and costumes for street performances that make my pack seem incredibly light weight. So here it is, my worldly possessions for traveling the world (or at least this particular part of it). For fun I put asterisks around things that I picked up along the way to differentiate from things I brought from the US. In hind sight I would have brought less clothes and bought more clothes here. You’ll also notice a few of the things listed as unused, many of which I am about to leave behind having realized the futility of carrying them. Some however I would have brought anyway because I still know I’ll need them later like when I get to somewhere like Tibet to visit Amy in June or July.

Gregory Palisade Pack

Clothes

Packed in 2 Eagle Creek “Fold-its”, 1 large cube, 1 small cube and one cube for socks

Vasque Full Leather Boots

Worn maybe 5 times, mostly on Treks

North Face Gortex XCR Rain Jacket

Un-used

2 Pairs White Cotton Socks

Un-used

3 Pairs Wool Socks

1 Pair used on Trek, other pairs un-used

1 Pair Black Nylon Socks *

Given to me in Bangkok by the Banyan Tree hotel, which require you to wear shoes into the swanky roof top bar, they loaned me shoes

Blue Old Navy Fleece Pullover

Used a LOT, in the north and Laos

Green/Grey Plaid North Face Short-Sleeved Button down Shirt

Worn maybe 5 times

4 Pairs Cotton Boxers

Worn frequently but I don’t need 4 pairs

3 Pairs Poly/Nylon Boxer Briefs

Worn more frequently I wish I had more

Red Prana Woven Cotton T-Shirt

Worn frequently

Blue Prana Woven Cotton T-Shirt

Worn frequently

Blue Life is Good Cotton T-Shirt

Worn somewhat frequently

Red North Face TekWare T-Shirt

Worn frequently

Green Gramichi Quick Dry Nylon Pants

Worn frequently

Off-White Hemp/Cotton Karate Pants

Worn frequently

Grey Nylon North Face Shorts

Worn frequently

Beige Nylon Mountain Hardware Shorts

Worn very frequently

Beige Nylon North Face Pants

Maybe worn once

Blue/Grey Long Sleeved Prana Shirt

Worn frequently

Bathing Suit

Worn Daily in the south

Red Quicksilver Rayon/Polyester Short-sleeved Button down shirt

Worn once

Grey Heavy North Face Pants

Used frequently in the North and Laos

Blue Nylon Hat

Lost the first week 🙁

Chacos (Teva like sandals but better)

Usually on my feet

*Grey Long Sleeved Heavy North Face TekWare Shirt*

Shipped from home, picked up last week un-used

*Yellow North Face TekWare T-Shirt*

Shipped from home, picked up last week worn twice already

*Blue Thai Fisherman Pants*

Bought in Koh Phangan, used mostly when spinning fire

*Purple/Green Scarf*

Bought in Mae Sai from a Long Neck Karen Woman – Used frequently in the north and Laos

*Blue/Orange Sarong*

Bought in Koh Phangan, used infrequently as blanket and yoga mat

*Camouflaged Hat*

Bought in Pai prior to Trek, used on trek and maybe a few more times

*Cheap Flip Flops *

Used a LOT, easier on/off than Chacos

Non-Clothes

Black Diamond Bullet A Very Small Back Pack

Used almost daily until I got my NEW shoulder bag

Black Pillowcase

Un-used

Waterproof Stuff Sack

Un-used

Sink Drain Plug

used 4-5 times

8 individual sized packets Woolite

Originally 10, 2 used

Brunton Compass

Un-used

Small Binoculars

Used once in Kao Yai National Park

Tetris Keychain Game

Un-used, I had this in Europe 8 years ago

Spool of Thread and needle

Un-used

Spyderco Knife

Used briefly and now broken

Sailing Gloves

used a few times riding motor bikes, planning on using them kayaking

Camelback

un-used

Silk Sleep Sack

Used about 50% of the time

THE Hotel Laundry Bag

Stolen at Chris and May’s Wedding Used Regularly

Quick Dry Pack Towel

Used Infrequently

Thin Nylon Duffle Bag

I put my big pack inside it when I fly – Used 3 times so far

Camera Tripod

Used very infrequently, but after the fire photo session totally worth every gram

*Incence*

Used occasionally to chase off mosquitos

*Santa ??? – Incense wood from South America*

Gift from Bryan, awesome, chases off mosquitos and smells great

*Cotton Hammock *

Bought in Koh Phangan and used every day there, used occasionally since then

*Purple Shoulder Bag *

Bought in Luang Prabang, Laos and used it for one week until my heavy camera blew out the zippers, now used to house my stinky fire poi

Picked up in Chaing Mai (2nd Visit), finished today, but I think I’ll carry it India

*Book – Kitchen Confidential*

Bought in Chaing Mai (2nd Visit), not started yet

Thats about it for my “big” pack, books I’m reading make it temporarily into my “small” pack or my day bag. I think I’m missing a book or two that I read quickly and discarded. I think I finished Bill Bryson’s “Lost Continent” here… I think… It’s late and I can’t think clearly. Oh, and my journal I carry most of the time in whatever pack/day bag I’m carrying see way down at the bottom. Now for my “small pack”, which is actually quiet large since it’s my camera/laptop/etc.. bag

Lowe-Pro CompuRover (Smaller Pack)

This pack is designed to carry a laptop and camera which I wear on the front when carrying my big pack on my back, it is not my day pack. It’s too big to be used as a day pack unfortunately

10-20 Blank DVDs

I burn photos to these to send home, in theory

*2 CDs of Software (Anti-Virus and Video Editing)*

Bought in Bangkok

Camera (Nikon D80, 18-200 VR Lens, UV Filter)

Used almost daily 🙂 I do get tired of carrying all 2kg of it though

Circular Polarizing Filter for Camera

Used frequently – Thank you Hansi and Jennifer

Camera Bag (just a case basically)

Used almost daily, used inside my day bag

Camera Flash

Used occasionally

LumiQuest Pocket Bouncer

Used once, not a big fan

Camera Lens Cleaning Kit

Used infrequently, I think I use it more on other peoples camera (which have never been cleaned) than on mine

Camera Memory Cards 1-2GB and 1-1GB

Used frequently

Lens Pen

Used for regular lens cleaning

Camera Battery Charger

Used about weekly

Rechargable battery charger (flash uses AA’s, speakers use AAA)

Used occasionally – It’s nice not to be throwing away alkaline batteries

Ipod/Sync Cable

Used infrequently – In the room I’m usually listen to music directly from the laptop

Sony in-ear headphones for Ipod and Laptop

Used somewhat frequently

Cables for hooking Ipod to stereo

unused (most stereos already have cables waiting for an Ipod to be plugged in)

Kennisiton Universal Charger

Used frequently until it died in Laos, they sent a new brick to Elena which she is bringing me in India

Adaptors for above to charge Laptop/Cell Phone/Ipod

Acer 5672 WLMi Laptop

Used almost daily

Power Cord for Acer Laptop

bought in Bangkok shortly after uninversal power adaptor died

USB Hard Drive 120GB

Used very frequently

Motorolla Razr V3 Cell Phone

Lost in Chaing Mai 🙁

Charger for RAZR V3

Used until phone lost, not sure why I still carry it

*Charger for Nokia 1110i*

Came with replacement phone bought in Chaing Mai

Pen Sized Mag Light

un-used

Colman Headlamp

used frequently during power outages and where there are no street lights

Whistle

un-used

*Plastic Folder*

For important papers (Insurance, Passport Copys, etc) bought in Bangkok

*Plastic Folder*

For less important papers (travel articles, notes, letters, postcasrds) bought in Bangkok

Heavy Paper Folder

Destroyed a few weeks ago

Pad of Engineering/Graph Paper

Just in case I want to sketch something

Manila Envelopes

For sorting and mailing

Sunglasses

Used occasionally, surprsingly less then I would have thought

*Bug Spray*

Used occasionally when needed – on second bottle both bought in Thailand

*Sun Screen*

un-used

Cliff Bar

Just in case… unused

First Aid Kit – Tiny, literally like 10 band-aids and a piece of gauze

Unused

3″ Square Post-it notes

Used frequently – notes for friends and bookmarks in LP

*Duck Tape*

Used frequently – mostly for blisters on feet on second tiny roll

Flickr Photo Cards

Used frequently

Extra USB cable

used a few times

*Naruda Poem from Elena*

Picked up with stuff in Chaing Mai, read several times

Travel Wallet w/ Passport some extra cash and a credit card

Carried on body when moving, left in room when stationary

Small lock and 3 keys

Used a few times to lock luggage, used once to lock door

Voice Recorder

Unused

Check Book w/ stash of extra cash and a credit card

Unused

Leathman Juice Pro

Used frequently, espeically to make/repair poi, also used as knife

Keychain compass and LED light clipped to pack strap

Used frequently I love this little thing, shame the LED is dying

Tiny screwdriver for taking apart laptops/electronics/etc…

Hey it was unused, but I just used to to fix the LED on the keychain Compass/LED

Day Bag

Usually my shoulder bag, use to be my Bullet Backpack

*Shoulder Bag*

Bought in Bangkok, modified to be strong in Pai, with an inside pocket too… I love this one and prefer it to a back pack 🙂

Journal

Used frequently or writing and storing important papers

*Nokia 1110i Cell Phone*

Bought in Chaing Mai

*Sock Poi*

My first set of Poi Picked up in Pai, still my favorite, with me everywhere

Wallet

Almost always in my pocket

Cash

Used Daily

Credit Card

Unused

ATM Card

Used frequently (weekly)

CA Drivers License

unused

Engeering License

unused

Bussiness Card from Mom and Elena

unused

Red Cross Card

unused

AAA Card

unused

Insurance Info

unused

Well, I think that’s it… every last little piece… I weighed everything flying from Chiang Mai to Phuket. Big Pack=23kg, Small Pack=12kg, Shoulder Bag 2kg, all total 37kg. Multiply by 2.2 to get to pounds.